Flat-bed manifolding machine



March 10, '1925. 1,529,555

J. Q. SHERMAN ET AL FLAT BED MANIFOLDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 27, 1920 v5 Sheets-Sheet 1 w M l 4 a; a"? a: I}?

I BY I ATTOR/VffY-S.

J i I E v LL 7 MA /V7095 March 10, 1925. 1,529,555

J. Q. SHERMAN ET AL FLAT BED MANIFOLDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 27, 1920 5 Sheets- Sheet 2 March 10, 1925. 1,529,555

- .1. Q. SHERMAN ET AL FLAT BED MANIFOLDIHG MACHINE Filed [380- 1920 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 March 10, 1925.

J. Q. SHERMAN ET AL FLAT BED MANIFOLDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 27, 1920 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTO/P/VfXS.

March 10, 1925. 1,529,555 J. Q.' SHERMAN ET AL FLAT BED uAmFoLpms momma Filed Dec. 27, 1920 5 Sheets-S e et s Patented Mar. 10, 1925.

UNITED STATES PAT-am" OFF-ICE.

some Q. SHERMAN AND ALBERT w. mn'rznna, or DAYTON, 0310; sun un'rzmm ASSIGNOR TO sun SHERMAN.

FLAT-BED MAN'II'QLDING' MACHINE.

Application filed December 27, 1920. Serial No. 488,208.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN Q. SHERMAN and ALBERT W. METZNER, citizens of the United States, and residents of Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flat-Bed Manifolding Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the drawings, forming part of this specification. I

Our invention relates to flat bed manifolders of the type wherein there are a number of webs of paper with forms imprinted upon the webs, the problem being to feed these webs in a convenient manner, and to align them accurately for receiving correctly located impressions upon all superimposed forms.

Among other things our invention is directed to means for supplying paper webs from a storage cabinet, in proper condition of alignment both longitudinally and laterally and in doing this without any separate manual operation over and above those done in feeding the paper OVBI' the machine platen after they have been written upon.

It is our object to provide a means of feeding the plural webs which is adjustable for different lengths of feed, and in this connection to adjust the storage feed to correspond to the issuing feed, so as to maintain a loop or looseness of paper between the storage device and the writing device, thereby insuring a freedom of the various webs for adjustment free of frictional engagement .with each other. a

It is further our object to align the webs of paper by means of members adapted to engage the holes in the plural forms during a period of relaxation of the normal feed.

We also provide means for insuring a proper riding of the paper webs over the carbon paper employed in duplication of the impressions formed upon the topmost web. and further extend the usefulness of this means so as to serve as a member for breaking loose adhesions of carbon paper to the webs fed between it.

and registration, and our invention is directed-to the handling of up to a dozen or more webs of paper, as well as to the usual two or three copies usuallyemployed in the autographic type of mamfolder.

We provide in this connection for an elec- I trio feed of the various webs on the same principle illustrated in ourcopending application Serial No. 370839, filed April 2nd, 1920, wherein a motor is used which automatically switches 01f the power by a longitudinal movement of the rotor.

These objects and other advantages to be noted below, we accomplish by that certain construction and arran ement of parts to be hereinafter more specili cally pointed out and claimed. j

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the typewriter manifolder embodiment of our invention.

Figure 2'is a continuation" of Figure I,

jogging loose oarbon'pa- Figure 5 is a detail plan view of the cover plate and sprockets of the storage cabinet feeding devlces.

Figure 6 is a plan view detail of the traveling bar carrym the form engaging pins of the storage fee ing device.

Figure 7 is a side elevation of the paper feed used on the writing machine or register.

Figure 8 is another view similar to Figure 7 showin the said feedin device in a posi-' tion of a justment for a s o rt feed.

Figure 9 is an edgewise new of the pressure roll elevating cam.

view of the part shown in Figure 10 is a Figure 9. I

Figure 11 is a perspectlve view of the primary member of the adjustable feed element.

Figure 12 is an edgewise view of the said A primary member.

Figure 13 is a pers ective view of the secondary member of t e adjustable feed element.

Figure 14 IS an edgewise view thereof.

Figure 15 is a perspective View of the third member of the adjustable feed element.

Figure 16 is an edgewise view thereof.

ring.

Figure'18 is a side View thereof.

Figure 19 is a detail endelevation showing the new form of adjustable feed.

Figure 20 is a side elevation on a small scale showing'the application of the feed principle to autographic registers.

.Figure 21 is a erspective detail showing the application of an electric feed device to the flat bed machine.

Figure 22 is a detail side elevation of the switch operating mechanism and feed trip for the feed shown in Figure 21.

In view of the fact that this invention embodies a novel form of feed for a plurality of strips of paper, whereby the length of paper that is fed during one complete continuous operation of the machine may bevaried through wide limits by means of an adjustable mechanism, and whereby the various paper webs may be aligned by a mechanism operable in connection with the feeding mechanism, so as to bring the webs into an accurate line for line superimposition we will first describe said feeding and aligning mechanism, and then describe the modes of application: to manifolding machines, and particularly to typewriter machines dealing with a large number of webs of paper.

Referring to Figures 7 -21, it will be noted that the surface upon which the writing is to be done, otherwise called the tablet or,

platen, is indicated at 1, and a springpressed tension roller or its equivalent is indicated at 2. Mounted beneath the platen or tablet is a rotary shaft3, known as the feed shaft, which is revolved by the operator in order to feed the paper along the platen or tablet.

The feeding devices mounted on the feed shaft, are inthis instance shown as, three in number and arranged in two sets although these numbers are merely adopted as showing a convenient embodiment of the inven tion. Each device is a segmental plate having'a periphery .which passes through a slot V or suitable clearance left beneath the tension roll, in the tablet or platen. Thus the platen may be cut away into slots 4, as shown, or it may terminate ahead of the vertical plane of the tension roll, as desired.

Of the three elements the first as shown at 5, has a hub 6 mounted fast on the feed shaft, and a periphery 7, the foremost point on the periphery being equipped with a feed pin 8. At the rearmost edge of this element is formed a lugwithin which is a threaded hole 9. The second element 10 has an arcuate slot 11 therein, and a peripharv 12 of preferably like length to that of Figure 17 is a plan View of the retaining.

' and shaped .so that the the first element. The hub 13 of the second element is loosely mounted over the feed shaft, and the piece lies adjacent to the first piece. This second piece has also a lug 14 within which is a threaded hole 14.

I The third piece or segment plate, as 15, is loose on the feed shaft and has a periphery 16, said periphery being of a length alike to that of the other two pieces, and the three pieces preferably having peripheries which make up almost a complete circle when set as extensionsof each other. The third piece has an arcuate slot 17, terminating within the body of a lug or extensions 18.

There are clamp screws 19provided which engagein the threaded holes of the first two pieces, and lie in the slots of the second two pieces, so that the three pieces may be moved fanwise to a position wherein their peripheries are in juxtaposition with each other, or swung out so as to form continuations of each other. The clamp screws secure the pieces fast together in the desired positions, and the combined peripheries will extend as the feed shaft is rotated, to a point of engagement with the tension roll, making up an arc of the desired extent.

As shown the peripheries may be marked off or graduated so that the operatormay byreading the number of inches as .per the graduations determine accurately the combined length of surface presented to the tension roll during any one complete rot-ation of the feed shaft.

In addition to the above parts we mount fixedly upon the. feed shaft preferably at both ends thereof, a cam member 20, which strikes the tension roll during the rotation of the feed shaft and lifts it up, so that the tension is removed. This cam member is positioned so that during the period that the pins on the primary member ofthe feed device are uppermost the tension will be lifted.

The aper employed with our invent on is usua ly printed up into forms, which forms are to be filled out while on the tablet in a line across the forms, there being in the.

example now being described two holes (not shown), arranged at the head of each form in like positions for each form, and located ins on the primary member will readily. and easily enter them. The feed operates as follows: When the operator has adjusted the segment plates in the desired position he rotates the feed shaft. This will cause the peripheries of the plates to engage the paper lying on the upper surface of the platen, and with the co-operation of the spring-pressed tension roll, feed the pieces a g ven distance depending upon the fan-wise adjustment of the said plates or segments. I

After the combined eripheries of the pieces have assed beneath thevtension roll, the feed -wil cease, andthe final motion of the feed shaft during its complete rotation will bring the pins on theprimary segment plates into engagement with the holes in the paper webs, the tension roll. being raised at the same time. The pins will draw the paperalong with them through a short path sufficient to adjust the holes of all webs over the pins, and thus align the paper, said paper being loose during this motion so as to permit a ready adjustment. I

The tension roll is grooved out at 21 to give clearance for the pin operation, and prevent the paper. slipping up off the pins, even though the roll is out of frictional contact.

At the start of the next feed, the pins may still impart a slight feeding movement, if desired, after which the tenslon roll will fall against the peripheries of the feeding ele-' ments', and the friction feed will take place as before. j

In Figure 7 one of the feed-in devices is shown as in fully expanded con ition, there .being 'a space left ad 'acent the pin position, so as to further free t e paper for in action even where the full feed is desire and cams are In Figure 8 the feed devices are'shown as folded u on each other as for the shortest the platen so that one of the webs is engaged by only one of the feed devices, whereupon it may be fed a less distance than the others.

Modifications in size, number, and arrangement of the said. feeding devices, pins,

fully. contemplated in our invention. Referringv now to the inclusion of this feed m the. simplestform of manifolder, viz theautographic': register, we have shown a register cas n 22, in the lid of which is mounted the iction roll 23, its ehds bein spring-pressed downwardly at 24. The fee s aft is shown at 25, havin a handle 26, WhlCh is stopped at the end ogeach complete rotation by means of a depressible stop '27. The paper is shown at 28, mounted on suitable spindles, and feeding in continuous webs over a tablet plate when they pass beneath the tension roll. The feeding devices are shown at 29, located in a position of about threeuarters of a full possible feed.

After h'a'vmg adjusted the feeding devices to the properlength of feed the o erator draws his forms over the writing tab et and -mounts the holes at the heads of the forms overthe' pins on the rimary members of the feedmg' evices. A 1' making the desired bon paper.

- vide In a 'manifolding machine, such as those used in typewriting a large'number of copies upon various business forms the provision? of various safeguarding meclianisms is obligatory. The feed'is the same as that now described generally, and as applied to auto-.

graphic registers. Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3, it will be noted that the paper 30 passes over the platen 31 interleaved with carbon paper 32, which it will be understood is mounted in some suitable way so as to pass in separate sheets or webs, transversely of the path of the paper over the platen.

The friction or tension roller 33 is mounted on the ends of arms 34, which are pivoted at 35 along-side of the platen, and impelled by springs 36, to maintain the'roller down i a ainst the feeding devices. For purposes 0 clearness the operating handle 37 aligning pin 37*, and feed shaft 38 are shown, but no other parts of the paper feed other'than the cam member 39. The feed will be the same in all respects as that which we have described.

The various websof paper on which the forms to'be filled out are printed, pass onto the frame 40 of the typewriter manifolder over a carbon aper guarding device. Thus there are a pa1r of channeled uprights 41 at each side of the back end of the machine, these uprights being adapted to receive ,1 plurality of shafts or bars 42, which have enlarged heads'43 to serve as spacers. The.

paper webs are brought up over these-bars or rollers, and thus separated from each other. On each bar is mounted a pair of semi-flexible sheets'44, which may be of thin metal or other material, and which extend from the bars, forwardly of the machine, passing over a roll or bar 45, and arranged at their forward engs so that between the two leaves of each p ir 'is a sheet of thecar- The roll or bar 45 is mounted on apairof extensions 46, from the two uprights,'hitherto mentioned, andv the structure'of the two upri hts and two extensions is mounted on the lnside of the machine frame so that it will slide longitudinally thereof.

Preferably a channeled guide 47 is provided for each side of the frame, "just below its u ,per edge, with the extensions 46 prod with a rib 48pto slide in said. ides, one or both of the extensions havinga andle 49 by means of which the movement is ac- I paper to be written between the ends of the shields, so that. they are protected.

After the writing has been done, and it is desired to feed the webs forwardly over the platen, the operator may move the shield carrying frame structure forwardly, so as to run the various shields in between the carbon paper and the paper written upon, thereby breaking up any adhesions, and smoothing out the assembly so that it will feed regularly without unequal friction or pullback. As has been stated, we have found that one of the chief difliculties in the handling of a large number of webs of paper together with interleaved carbon paper is that the carbon. paper, unless of perfect quality will stick to the paper, thereby causing trouble'both invthe paper feed, and in the destruction of the carbon paper.

It will, be noted further that as a result of this device for freeing the webs of paper from all adhesions and shieldingthe carbon edges, the paper is put into a condition of hardly any friction or tension at all so that during the operation of the feeding devices there will be perfect freedom of adjustment of the webs on each other, when they are called to do so.

It is necessary, however, to provide a loose portion of paper between the storage devices, in'which the paper is stored in rolls of convenient size, and the writing mecha-' nism. Unless this is done, the paper will not be free for the adjustment referred to.

In order to do this we provide a method of withdrawing the webs of paper from the feeding device, and maintaining a loop of paper at all times, by means of coupling up the paper feed now described with the storage cabinet ftgd, and leaving a loop of paper in an amount sufficient to leave a freely hanging portion at all times between the two feeds. i

Thus there is the cabinet 50, in which the paper isstored in rolls 51, said paper being mounted on spindles 52, which have core filling disks 53 thereon.

The paper then passes up over interspaced idler rolls 54, and thence over a plate 55, which has formed lengthwise thereof slots 56, having a wavy outline, and terminating in large ends 57. A top plate 58, having like slots therein, is hinged at 59 to thecabinet, and when folded down over the paper, is spaced away therefrom and rests against a stop 60, on a bracket at the forward end of the cabinet. At this point a latch 61 engages a 'nose 62 on the end of the plate, this latching device being duplicated on each side of the machine, by preference.

Mounted on a fixed shaft 63, beneath the supporting plate for the paper webs, are sprockets 64 and mounted in a bar 65 is another shaft 66, which also carries sprockets 67 similar to the sprockets first mentioned. t

The bar 65 is adjustable in its position lengthwise of the cabinet, by means of guides 68 in which the bar slides, and screws '69 engaging in the bar, and in screw blocks 70 at the forward ends of the guides, a set screw 71 being used to lockthe adjusted position of the said bar. A like sprocket to the ones mentioned is mounted on the feed shaft of the writing mechanism, as shown at 72, so that when the feed shaft is revolved the sprocket 72 is revolved, and a chain 73 is passed over the several sprockets, said chain being adjustable for length by the removal of links in any usual manner.

Mounted at desired points on the chain, and spaced apart the length of the desired length of paper to be fed, are short bracket pieces 74, which, as shown, are formed with channeled ends 75, which are embraced with removable chain links 76, so as to be positioned as desired in the chains. I

The brackets carry cap screws 77 which engage in elongated slots 78, in cross bars 79, which are thus carried by the chains and are free to oscillate These bars carry pins 80, which will enter the holes in the heads of the forms and as the chains are moved will feed the forms forwardly from the storage cabinet into a loop 81 arranged between the storage cabinet and the frame of the writing mechanism.-

It should be understood that in referring to the number of pins used and the position of the holes, we are merely referring to a convenient arrangement and not intending to limit the scope of our invention.

A full complement of bars and pins 15 not shown, but it will be understood that the webs of paper will be arranged so that the pins will enter the holes in the continuous web and feed along a full length form or check each time that the paper feed is operated in the writing mechanism.

Should it'be desired to operate the paper feed by electric motor, this will be readily possible in the mechanism now described, either for the autographic type or the larger machines using more paper.

Thus the small motor 89 may be provided, same being of the type referred toin our application for patent Serial No. 370839, filed April 2nd, 1920, which, asillustrated in said, application, drives the feed shaft of the machine through the medium of a gear 90. The motor has a switch button 81*, and the feed shaft has a cam 82 thereon which tact with a pin- 87 on the latch and depress it, thereby releasing the feed shaft. The

pawl when swung down into position to depress the latch will be located so that the latch can rise, although the depressed position of the'pawl be retained, since the pawl will then swing on its hinge, and will have to .be elevated again .before the latch releasing operation can be accomplished.

The lever 85 may also carry an arm 86, which will depress the switch button, whenever the latch is released. The motor as per the above noted application will be such that it will turn off of itself, when any considerable load is opposed to its continued operation, so that when the feed is stopped the motor will stop of itself. A spring 88 controls the normal position of the lever 85..

Having thus describedour invention, what wegclaim as new and desire to secure by Letter Patent, is:

1. In a manifolding machine, the combination with a stationary platen, of means for feeding paper over the said platen in uniform lengths at each operation, said lengths amounting to one complete fill or other form, a storage cabinet, means on the storage cabinet for feeding a like length of paper toward the platen at each operation, and interconnecting mechanism between said two feeding means whereby the operation of the one will operate the other, said means for feeding over the platen having elements for aligning the length of paper with each other.

2. In a manifolding machine, the combination with a stationary. platen, of means for feeding paper over the said platen in uniform lengths at each operation, said lengths amounting to one complete fill or other form, a storage cabinet, means on the storage cabinet for feeding a like length of toward the platen at each operation,

paper an interconnecting mechanism between said two feeding means whereby the operation of the one will 0 erate the other, and means for adjusting the length of feed for both feeding mechanisms for each operation, said means for feeding over the p aten having elements for aligning the length of paper with eachother.

3. In a manifolding machine, the combination with a stationary fplaten, of means for feeding paper in ful orm lengths over said platen, and means for engaging holes formed in said paper for aligning it during a ortion of the feeding operation, a storage cabinet, means on the storage cabinet for feeding a like length of paper toward the platen at each operation, and interconnectber for switching current intosaid motor.

ing mechanism between said two feeding means whereby the operation of the one will operate the other, said means for feeding over the platen having elements for aligning the length of paper with each other. v

4:. In a manifolding machine, the combination with a stationary platen, of means for feeding paper in full form lengths over saidplaten, and means for engaging holes 7 formed in said paper for aligning it during a portion of the feeding operation, a storage cabinet, means on the storage cabinet for feeding a like length of paper toward the platen at each operation, and interconnectlng mechanism between said two feeding means whereby" the operation of the one will operate the other, and means for adj usting. the length of feed for both feeding mechanisms for each operation, said means for feeding over the platen having elements for aligning the length of paper with each other.

5. In a manifolding'machine, the combination with a stationary laten, of means f for feeding paper in full orm lengths over the said platen in uniform lengths at each operation, a storage cabinet, means on the storage cabinet for feeding a like length of paper toward the platen at each operation, an interconnecting mechanism between said two feeding means whereby the operation of the one will operate the other, both of said feeding means having rotary sprockets, and said interconnecting mechanism comprising 1 a chain connecting said sprockets, said means for feeding over the platen having elements for aligning the length of paper with each other. v I v I 6. In a flat bed manifolding machine, the combination with a feed for paper adjustable for length of feed imparted to the paper during complete rotations, a feed shaft therefor adapted to be rotated one complete revolution for each feed, a latch to stop the feed shaft at each revolution, an electric motor for driving thefeed shaft, said motor being adapted to automatically shut off upon stopping of the feed shaft, and a movable mem- 7. In a flat bed manifolding machine, the combination with a feed for aper adjustable for length of feed imparted to the paper during complete rotations, a feed shaft therefor adapted to be rotated one complete revolution for each feed, a latch to stop the feed shaft at the end of each revolution, an electric motor for driving the'feed shaft, said motor being adapted to automatically shut off upon stopping of the feed shaft, and a movable member for switching current into said motor, and means for providing the latch for the feed shaft with a member for operating the movable switch member, whereby an operation of the latch will release the feed shaft and set the motor-into operation. I

8. In a manifolding machine, the combination with a stationary platen. of means for feeding paper over the said platen in uniform full form lengths at each operation, astorage 7 cabinet, means on the storage cabinet for feeding a.-like length of paper toward the platen at each operation, and means for synchronizing the feed of the former and the latter said means for feeding over the platen having elements for aligning the length of paper with each other. I

9. In a manifolding machine, the combination with a stationary platen, of means for feeding paper over the said platen in uniform full form lengths at each operation', a storage cabinet, means on thestorage cabinet for feeding a like length of paper toward the platen at each operation, and means for synchronizing the feed of the former and the latter, and common means for actuating them in such relation, said means for feeding over the platen having elements for aligning the length of paper with each other.

10, Ina manifolding machine, the combination with a stationary platen, of means for feeding paper over the said platen in uniform full form lengths at each ope'ration, a storage cabinet, means on the storage cabinet for feeding a like length of paper toward the platen at each operation, and

means for synchronizing the feed .of. the former and of the latter, said means comprising at least in part an operative connection whereby the Operation of one of the feeding means will effectuate the operation of the latter said means for feeding over the platen having elements for aligning the length of paper with eachother.

' JOHN Q. SHERMAN.

ALBERT W. METZNER. 

